|
Embargo; Not to be
published or broadcasted before 15th
August, 2010.
64th
Independence Day Message of the Hon’ble Chief
Minister, 2010
Respected fellow
citizens of the State and the Country
On the auspicious occasion of
the 64th Independence Day of our great
nation, I extend my warm greetings to the people of
Sikkim and to my fellow Countrymen. As the Sikkim
Democratic Front party entered into the sixteenth
year of continued governance in the State, I most
humbly reiterate our time-tested commitment to
uphold the right of individual freedom and safeguard
the sovereignty and integrity of our great Country.
Today we once again pay our rich tribute to our
outstanding leaders who took the formidable
challenge to script the fate of the new-found
nation- uncertain of its own inner potential but
confident of the future to secure the overall
development for the countrymen after a very eventful
and hard struggle. As the rightful progeny of the
freedom struggle, we shall forever uphold the
indomitable spirit so characteristic of the freedom
struggle and cement the absolute sense of oneness,
national integration and co-existence across the
length and breadth of the Nation.
During the last 63 years, the
Country has successfully brought about
socio-political and economic transformation duly
adjusting to the changing global circumstances and
also its inner potential. Now the message is that
the freedom we secured in 1947 must be viewed under
the changed circumstances. The onus is on harnessing
this freedom for the good of all humankind. The case
is utilizing this freedom as an instrument of
change- a positive change. Freedom is not an excuse
for hankering after the lost opportunity. Freedom is
not something employed to retrieve your honour thus
muddled all the times.
Arguably, the main political
leaders at the time of independence of India were
Gandhi and Nehru. These two leaders stood for two
contrasting approaches to development. Gandhi
favoured development centred in rural villages which
would create self sufficiency in food, clothing and
housing. By contrast, Nehru was a firm believer in
national and industrial growth. And you are aware
that in Sikkim we assimilated both the philosophical
viewpoints to advance policy framework that best
address the concerns of both the leaders based on
equitable development spread including distribution
of welfare schemes throughout the State.
Respected fellow citizens, the
Sikkim Democratic Front government in the State has
paved the way for a new sense of development
dynamism that fulfills physical requirement and also
equally complements the mental and spiritual
wellbeing of the people. During the last sixteen
years, we have built a firm base for democratic
expression including free expression of dissent and
criticism which is exercisable within the limit of
democratic decency. Today, you are aware that many
reactionary elements are out in the street to
tarnish the good image of the State Government which
have, with great care, nurtured and promoted for
years together. Under the common umbrella of our
sacred document, we are equally empowered to see
that Sikkim continues to grow and prosper. Here we
recall the freedom we asserted in 1947 was conceived
on the essential values of self-discipline, hard
work and that ultimate goal of common good designed
to transform the State and the Nation as markedly
better than the erstwhile India under British
imperialism.
Wading through the murky
political atmosphere of acute political vendetta of
the pre 1994 Sikkim, marked by intimidation and
coercion, we have consistently withstood the
challenges to make Sikkim and the Sikkimese secure,
protected and self-assured. The Sikkim Democratic
Front party has been given this unprecedented
mandate to serve the collective interest of the
people for the record fourth consecutive term.
Knowing fully well that no one is above the wishes
of the people as provided under the Constitution, we
will continue to guide the future of Sikkim and the
Sikkimese with greater vigour and energy.
Having successfully
experimented the many innovative and imaginative
development models in Sikkim, we have come to
realize that though Democracy as an institution
guarantees equal opportunity and equal access to
fundamental rights but it does not necessarily
ensure equitable growth and development of an
individual. That means the ability to harness
democratic dividend depends on the ability and
capability of the individual or group of
individuals. Therefore, we are now consciously
pursuing set of development programs seeking to
improve skills and enhance knowledge of the
individual to equally harness the economic avenues
brought about under the democratic system. May I
call upon my fellow Sikkimese to forever remain
partner in this grand vision with its long-term
goal.
Thanks to the wisdom of people
at large, the anti-people forces has been rejected
for all purpose ushering in a new wave of thinking
and that essential democratic ideals. With
particular emphasis on upliftment of ST, SC, women
and the marginalized and downtrodden people, we took
a number of unprecedented policy initiatives to
address issues of social justice, equality,
education, health, poverty alleviation, customary
rights, dialects and languages, rural development
and empowerment of weaker section of people. On this
happy occasion, I am proud to state that the tribal
communities in
Sikkim are most empowered in Country who take active part in the development
of the State and the country. As per the calculation
made by the State authority based on National Survey
Sample (NSS) data, the per capita asset value of the
Scheduled Tribes (Bhutias and Lepchas) in
Sikkim is Rs 71,700
as against national average of the STs of Rs 30,000.
The per capita asset value in general of the
Sikkimese population is Rs 60000 as against the
national average of Rs. 40, 000.
Respected
citizens, you are aware that one of the first
decisions we took with immense socio-cultural
consequences was allocation of 70% of State Plan
allocation for rural sector. After the policy
decision we undertook many pro-poor schemes to
provide basic minimum needs to the people of Sikkim.
Meanwhile, for the most deprived section of
population, we have carried out dedicated schemes
for ensuring food, shelter and clothings including
free distribution of rice at the rate of 35 kilos
per household, Mukhya Mantri Awas Yojana at the rate
of Rs. 6 lakhs each, Rural Housing Scheme with cash
grant of Rs. 20,000, 30 GCI sheets, electricity and
LPG connection, free incentives for the BPL
households, free education and free medical care. We
are implementing these many schemes to ensure that
rural Sikkim develops at the same pace with the
urban locality. In respect of women empowerment
issue, we have created many historical mileposts by
guaranteeing them equal and affirmative share. They
are today the most empowered section of population
in the entire Country. Sikkim, therefore, has
emerged as the only State in the Country to provide
maximum benefit and overall security cover to its
people. The people of
Sikkim are the fortunate lot to have received host of such benefits directly
from the Government. Today, as we celebrate this
Independence Day, I believe we have been able to
lend greater meaning to the State as we have been
able to relieve downtrodden people from relative
poverty, disparity, daily needs, health hygiene and
educational needs. All these social measures have
also helped generate livelihood opportunity for the
people.
Closely following the goal of
social justice paradigm, our Government has launched
yet another unique scheme under the Chief Minister’s
Universal Financial Inclusion programme to cover all
the married rural women in the State. This will
empower them economically which would invariably
raise their status and self-esteem in a given
society. The Sikkim Government is the first State to
initiate such a significant social reform measure
aiming to provide them with complete social security
cover to live a dignified life.
Under the Chief Minister’s
Universal Financial Inclusion program, one Smart
Card would be provided to one married woman with an
initial deposit of Rs.1000/- at her credit. The
scheme takes off providing her access to Banking to
be available at her door steps at her own village.
Besides, this scheme would provide insurance cover
against accident, property losses covering five
members of the family.
The Central Bank of India is
our partner in this Mission under which bank
correspondents appointed by the Bank in consultation
with local panchayats will visit each house in the
village to find out the requirement by the married
women. We are also examining the Bank’s offer to
open one-man branch office in each Gram Panchayat
unit to facilitate advanced banking facilities at
the grass root level. Today, you have witnessed the
distribution of four Smart Cards to four of our
womenfolk under the scheme which will be covered
fully in due course of time.
Respected fellow
Sikkimese
The long cry of connectivity
and the distressful sense of physical isolation is
today almost a thing of the past. You are well aware
that the Airport at Pakyong built under the aegis of
the Airport Authority of India is making very steady
progress. A high level State Committee has been
constituted to monitor and assist the AAI to ensure
that the project is completed on schedule.
In terms of railway
connectivity, the Government of India has been kind
to sanction the rail connectivity from Sevoke to
Rangpo at a total cost of Rs. 3380 crores. As per
the latest report, the project has been awarded to
M/S IRCON International ltd (Indian Railway
Construction, an undertaking under the Ministry of
Railway, Government of India. The work has since
started and would be completed by the year 2015.
Thereafter, the 2nd phase from Rangpo to
Gangtok would be taken up for which the survey work
has been completed.
National Highway 31A double
laning has been funded and sanctioned by the
Ministry of Surface Transport to be implemented by
the Border Road Organization into a double lane
highway from Sevoke to Nathula. Although the work is
in progress, it needs to be expedited for early
completion of the lifeline to Sikkim. The other
alternative route to Siliguri in West Bengal via Chalsa must also be taken up expeditiously. Once these projects are
completed, the people of
Sikkim will get
immense relief from prolonged monsoon in the hills
and the continuous disruption of the National
Highway by rains, landslides and other natural
calamities.
Respected citizens, we are well
aware that cultural heritage, tradition and customs
and languages of people form the essential
ingredient of a meaningful life. We are a rainbow
State, where different languages and dialects of the
tribal conglomerate enrich and complement the
overall socio-cultural texture of the Sikkimese
people. I have always maintained that development
of mosaic on our beautiful culture which reflects
the cultural wealth of all sections of people will
be always empowering and refreshing. Therefore,
equality in terms of religious beliefs and practices
and linguistic freedom have always been foremost in
our mind. We, therefore, acted in rapid succession
to preserve, promote and recognize many of our
ethnic festivals, languages, dialogues and
indigenous practices. Local festivals belonging to
different communities have been declared as Gazette
holidays. Ancient rituals and practices have been
revived adding further richness to our ethnicity.
Incantation and invocation to local deities so
prominent and unique a cultural resource in our
State have been revived through various incentives.
This is to ensure that human existence based on
tradition and culture is preserved always and next
we intend to relate the cultural wealth as our
productive commodities in this scientific world, in
this knowledge society. Culture and tradition of the
Sikkimese people are unique and our original and
indigenous cultural heritage is what makes us
distinct and special in the world.
In the last sixteen years, we
have regularly upgraded the level of intellectual
output in the context of increased public debate,
freedom of press, state planning process,
preparation of perspective plans, human development
and vision document etc. On different occasions
earlier, I have noted with dismay the absence of any
meaningful opinions shaping society towards
constructive path. The civil society members, on
most occasions, have chosen to sound neutral on
issues of public importance. What happens in such a
situation is that when not many good people voice
their opinion, evil and corrupt people would drown
the voice of sanity, rationality, reason and
practicality. To overcome this shortfall, our
Government has been designing all possible
interventions so that crooked people do not prey on
simple folks due to their ignorance and lack of
knowledge. Concept like that of Village Library,
Community Centre, etc. have been conceptualized by
us so that knowledge will flow free and wide to the
remotest parts of the State, making our people,
informed, knowledgeable and wise.
We prepared Human Development
Report, Vision Document, Village Development Action
Plan, Urban Plan duocument to define the benchmark-
of where we stand and setting new targets to achieve
within certain time frame. Economic Survey report is
prepared and tabled periodically so that we know the
level of our achievement and the next step to
undertake for further development. While formulating
the perspective plans and programs, we consult a
wide spectrum of society from noted economists,
professionals, people’s representatives, panchayats,
local gentry etc. so that the decision so emerged
will have the elements of novelty and inclusiveness.
We have created Institutions like Sikkim State
Planning Commission,
Sikkim State Commission for Women, Sikkim
Akademi, Himalayan Centre for Adventure Tourism,
Sikkim
Board of Investment,
Youth Commission
and Environment
Commission.
Respected citizens,
in the education sector, education upto college
level is free. Sikkim is the only State in the
country today to earmark 20 percent of plan
allocation to Education sector. We have set up
number of other colleges including the one at
Rhenock, Namchi and Soreng. Besides, there are a
number of technical institutions imparting technical
training to our children with on the spot placement
facility. Three Sanskrit Colleges have been set up
in the State. Language teaching of different ethnic
languages have commenced in School of Sikkim with
appointment of regular teachers.
In order to cover more students
under our program, the State Government has already
made announcement to extend all available
educational incentives upto Class VIII students
including supply of free school uniform, text books,
exercise books, shoes/socks etc. The Chief
Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme for the fifty
meritorious students at the Class V level has taken
off from this year which has benefitted the selected
students to study in public schools. The best ten
out of these fifty students have been admitted in
renowned public schools at Gwalior and Kasauli. This
scheme will be enlarged to cover 100 best students
from next year and the number will go up every
subsequent year. More of our educated youths are
coming out with flying colors in competitive
examination at the All India levels.
I would like to call upon
all the people to fully utilize the incentives
provided by the Government.
Health sector have
been our priority sectors with considerable
investment both with regard to resource allocation
and institutional innovations. Sikkim was the first
State in the country to sponsor free Hepatitis B
vaccination for children in the age group of 0-1
years. In comparison to the national indicators, the
health indicators of Sikkim are three times better.
Innovative steps involving both preventive and
curative measures have been undertaken. This noble
initiative has been launched under the auspices of
the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Annual and Total
Check-up for Healthy Sikkim (CATCH) campaign. We
need to be adequately equipped with a comprehensive
data covering the health profile of each and every
citizen in the State for timely intervention in
providing health care and treatment can be organized
more efficiently. This exercise will involve
upgrading the technical expertise of our doctors
including the Para-medics as well as improving the
physical facilities for diagnostic services covering
the entire network of our medical Centres throughout
the State. We will initiate action in this regard
with careful planning and also chart a realistic
road map to achieve the goals under this Mission.
You will
be happy to note that our Government has sponsored
85 Sikkimese boys and girls in Manipal University at
Mangalore for undergoing Bsc. Nursing and allied
courses. On completion of this training, the State
will have the advantage of such specialized training
in higher nursing. Undoubtedly, the noble work of
nursing so important in health care will go a long
way in meeting our requirement. A well trained nurse
bestowed with Florence Nightingale qualities makes
wholesome difference in the patient to recover
quickly.
The absence
of a super-specialty Hospital to cater to the
multiple life threatening health problems of our
citizens has been a grave concern for the
Government. The existing facilities available with
the STNM hospital are inadequate to cater to the
growing pressure for treatment and medical care.
With a view to resolving this problem and also for
relieving the burden of our people from having to
seek treatment outside the State by incurring huge
expenses and often having to succumb to loss of
lives due to delayed medical attention, we are
constructing a 575 bedded multi-specialty hospital
within the State Capital. In order to ease the
financial strain particularly for those falling
under the BPL category, we had also launched the
Health Insurance Scheme at the fag end of the fiscal
year 2008-2009. Under the dispensation of this
scheme, the medical treatment of the needy and poor
will be taken care of. You are aware that the State
Government has already introduced Mobile Medical
Units to cover people living in remote and
inaccessible areas. We have also acquired two new
bhawans in the national capital of
Delhi for providing additional
accommodation for our patients to receive advanced
medical treatment there.
A number of
schemes for extending health care assistance to
those patients who are referred by the State Medical
Board for medical treatment involving advanced cases
of ailments as well as life threatening illness will
be covered under the Mukhya Mantri Jeewan Raksha
Kosh programme. Under the auspices of this scheme,
two programmes namely the Mukhya Mantri Netra Jyoti
Yojana and the Mukhya Mantri Sravan Shaki Samridhi
Yojana have also been envisaged to cater to the
needs of patients. Problems relating to anemia and
malnutrition will also be addressed with regular
administration of de-worming and Iron Folic Acid (IFA)
supplement courses covering children, pregnant and
lactating mothers including men who are anemic. Our
Government has also started administering MMR
(Measles, Mumps and Rubella) vaccine for girl child
between age group of 0-12 years. These programmes
will also be complemented with the distribution of
protein supplement food inputs to remedy the
malnutrition problems effecting children under the
auspices of the Mukhya Mantri Antyodaya Pustakhar
Yojana under the State Government programme.
The State Government is deeply
committed to provide nutritious food and diet to our
ailing patients in the hospitals in the State. The
State Government is already working in this
direction for facilitating good food and diet to our
patients staying in the hospitals where funds have
been provided for this purpose. In addition to all
the existing health incentives, we are also starting
a new Pharmacy College of the State at the Leprosy
Hospital complex, Sajong during this financial year.
Health Insurance for all the Sikkimese people are
being taken up. During this financial year, I am
pleased to announce similar provision to cover all
the government employees under health insurance
after evolving appropriate modalities. I am
privileged one more time to reiterate the State
Government commitment to make Sikkim malnutrition
free, goitre or iodine deficiency free, TB & MDR
free and HIV/AIDS free under the ongoing programme
which will be vigorously pursued with additional
resource allocation from time to time.
Now, there is no denying the
fact that youth power is a potential energy that we
can well channelize for the benefit of our society,
State and the nation. The seriousness with which we
view this issue is exemplified by our decision to
create an independent Department of Sports and Youth
Affairs. Different forms of games including archery,
cricket, boxing and other forms of martial arts
shall be further promoted in the State upto the BAC
and sub-division levels. The State Government is
also establishing Archery Academy in the State. We
have regularized the service and posted Physical
Education Teachers in all school above Secondary
level. I call upon my people and the young
generation to take advantage of all the available
infrastructure and institutions to train themselves
in their respective field. I am confident that now
when I rise up every morning, I would see the
enthusiasm of youths in overflowing numbers on the
street with football, cricket bats and boxing glove
in their hands headed for the early morning practice
in addition, of course, to their regular Samsung,
Nokia or may be the Blackberry!
What I intend to communicate is
that the issue of youth power management has
received a focused impetus from the Government with
a wide-ranging support system in place. The State
Government has realized that creating opportunities
in hosts of sectors alone will not address
unemployment problem among the people. This has to
be adequately commensurate by creating pool of
trained human resource to tap all the job
opportunities.
We have to accept the ground
reality of this emerging world order and re-orient
ourselves to equip our people. Accordingly, we began
by instituting the Chief Minister’s Self-Employment
Scheme in June 2002 which provides for soft loans of
upto 3 lakhs to the aspiring youths to undertake
different business ventures. Till date we have
sanctioned loan to over 6,000 educated unemployed
youths at the financial implication of Rs. 57.30
crores. There are similar other loan schemes for our
youths which they can avail of from time to time.
The youth force in the State should, accordingly,
take advantage and reap maximum benefit out of these
many initiatives.
Respected fellow Sikkimese, we
have realized that without trained manpower, our
people are not able to avail of the emerging
opportunities in diverse fields including trade,
small industrial units, power projects and
hospitality services. We undertook similar campaign
last year to generate awareness among people.
Continuing with the same zeal and enthusiasm, we
have created a new Institute of Capacity Building in
addition to the existing Directorate of Capacity
Building in the State. We have added a new dimension
in our effort by establishing one Livelihood School
each in every constituency. Many young boys and
girls are undergoing different kinds of vocational
upgradation training in such Institutes across the
State. We are the first State in the Country to
institutionalize capacity building program in the
form of formal Institutions. We have been able to
provide a new thinking and a new concept to the
entire people of the State and also the Country. I
would call upon the youth population to fully take
advantage and become fully literate and capable
citizens of the Country.
You are aware that the role of
Government is to create as many opportunities and
avenues as possible for development of our young
generation. We have been trying to create every type
of opportunities at the village level, district
level and the State level to cater to the
aspirations of the young generation. Now that I feel
that once such opportunities exist, it is also the
responsibility of each and every citizen to help the
youngsters undertake skill development training and
take advantage of all the existing opportunities.
Sikkim, blessed by all the
Nature’s bounty, can thoroughly become a Green State
and the world famous destination. Beginning in 1995
with green initiatives like the ‘Harit Kranti Varsh’,
we have worked tirelessly towards nature’s
conservation on regular basis. We have continued the
activities under the State Green mission, and
efforts are being made to take up the greening of
our State in a more systematic and planned manner. A
novel initiative in the current year is to earmark a
certain percentage of the works outlay of the
infrastructure departments for this purpose.
The more recent
initiative namely ‘Ten Minutes to Earth’ program was
started in 2009. Dedicated to the environmental well
being of the State, this campaign has gained immense
popularity among all sections of people. Like on all
other occasions, plantation drive under this
particular program has become very popular among
people. This year, on July 25, 2010 that people of
Sikkim again planted saplings in large number on
turning this event as an annual ritual, as annual
festival. This day will be observed every year as
green day throughout the State planting yet another
lakhs sapling by the people.
It is our movement and
responsibility to make Sikkim more beautiful and
greener by integrating ecology with economy for
posterity. I appeal to all to wholeheartedly support
the movement and ensure active participation by
planting seedling and saplings this monsoon. We have
to make all our natural resources sustainable I call
upon the people to fully dedicate and participate in
this campaign and make it successful. The issue of
environmental conservation should not be viewed
within the parameter of containing the process of
global warming but should be viewed as a sustainable
development and preservation of our Nature for
sustained economy, opportunity and creation of
employment now and in the days to come.
In order to make eco-tourism
the new profession of the 21st century
people, we have initiated a multi-pronged strategy
to make it a sustainable means of livelihood which
includes creation of tourist attraction destinations
across the State. You are aware that we have today
hosts of new attractions like the 135 feet tall
statue of Guru Padmasamvawa at Samdruptse, Char Dham
at Solaphok, Buddha Park at Ravangla, statue of chen
regiz, underground monastery, Sarva Dharma Sai
Mandir at Daramdin, sports like Bungee Jumping for
adventure tourism and the proposed Skywalk at Bhaley
Dhunga so on and so forth. Plans are also afoot to
link up each and every religious centres and
institutions in the rural Sikkim for pilgrimage
tourism. Sikkim is also all set to play crucial role
in the promotion of Buddhist Circuit tourism in the
country. The Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation
has also recently concluded a joint agreement with
Tamil Tourism Development Corporation in Chennai to
carry out reciprocal promotion, marketing and
tourism related business between the two States.
Sikkim’s natural environment is
conducive for large scale production of off-season
vegetables along with production of cardamom,
mandarin orange, passion fruits and seeds
production. Sikkim has been designated as Agri
Export Zone with emphasis on production and export
of large cardamom, ginger, flower and cherry pepper
at the international markets. The State is also
promoting organic farming so that by 2009, Sikkim
could be transformed an ‘organic state’. Again, the
climate of Sikkim is ideal for growth of Cymbidium
Orchids, Lillium and Rose bulb and these are
produced on a massive scale. The fact that Sikkim
provides perfect natural conditions for the growth
of these flowers means it can compete
internationally in terms of price and quality, thus
creating immense possibility and potential for the
State. With the recent opening of the first
Livelihood School for Organic Farming in Sikkim, the
momentum for transforming Sikkim into the total
organic State shall received great impetus.
With a
whopping hydro-power potential of 8000 MW, Sikkim is
all poised to reap hefty economic dividend from this
Nature’s bounty. The State Government has taken a
bold initiative to judiciously harness the abundant
resource potential with regard to hydel energy.
We have,
in the pipe-line, as many as 21 hydel power projects
which have been entrusted for execution on joint
venture between State Government and reputed power
producers and the National Hydro-electric Power
Corporation. These projects envisage a combined
installed generation capacity of 5000 MW. Four
projects are targeted to be operational during the
XIth Five Year Plan with a projected installed
generation capacity of 1900 MWs. The Sikkim Power
Development Corporation (SPDC) will also initiate
steps to take up projects in partnership with the
State Government under the PPP module. In all these
ventures, the SPDC and the Government of Sikkim will
hold equity of 26% as well as enjoy 12% free power
for 15 years which will be enhanced to 15% over the
subsequent period till the 35th year of
the contractual agreement. Apart from the above
arrangements from the PPP contract, the contractual
agreement will also yield a fair share of dividend
from these projects.
The present generation capacity
of 610.70 MWs is particularly contributed by the 510
MW Teesta Stage V Hydel Project as well as the 60 MW
Rangeet Hydel project along with several other mini
and micro hydel projects which have been
commissioned over the recent years.
In addition, the State
Government will also install 13 micro hydel power
projects in East and North Sikkim with the total
generating capacity of 1,070 kw. These sanctioned
power projects under the Union Ministry of New and
Renewable Energy, shall be unique as they will be
run and managed by the local panchayats and local
people.
After
the successful implementation of 73rd
Constitution Amendment, our Government has forged
ahead in creating yet another historic milestone
with the peaceful and orderly conduct of the
elections to the urban local bodies in accordance
with the 74th Constitutional Amendment. The
resounding mandate that our Party received from this
election is testimony to the complete faith and
confidence the people have in the transparent and
democratic people’s Government in the State. The
entire election process was peaceful and orderly and
for which I would like to extend my appreciation and
thanks to all the respected people of Sikkim for
their active participation in the electoral process
and the State Election Commission for conducting
free, fair and peaceful election. The new regime
that has emerged in the true spirit of the 74th
Constitution Amendment will infuse a more creative
input into the developmental scenario of our State.
Democratic decentralization with
inclusive and participative governance has been put
in place in every panchayat administrative unit
throughout the State. With the creation of the Block
Administrative Centres, the process of decentralized
district planning for every micro unit of
administration within the State has been brought
into operation. The bottoms-up approach to the
planning process involving District level officials
and elected representatives of all Gram Panchayats
and Zilla Panchayats has now become a reality. As
one of our new initiatives, we have also created
MLA-Local
Area Development Fund
to carry out
important development works in the respective
Constituency.
Unlike in other parts of the
country, the rural-urban divide in Sikkim is quickly
narrowing down based on the dedicated program like
Village Action Plan being prepared by Professor
Bernard Dafflon of the Freebourg University under
the broad assistance and support of the State
Government. The report prepared by Prof. Dafflon is
ready which will be released soon as the roadmap for
scientific development of village under the eco-city
concept.
Respected fellow
citizens
The people of Sikkim have
widely witnessed the range of development programs
we undertook over the last sixteen years. However,
our overall goal is to evolve the kind of profession
and occupation that suits the 21st
century people. Therefore, we have promoted Service
Sector as part of the new profession of the
Sikkimese people for the new century. And they will
be largely based on- (a) organic farming, (b)
agro-based industry, (c) tourism and tourism related
trades, (e) education, and (f) IT. This is largely
based on the elemental truth that not all the
literate and educated Sikkimese will get the
white-collared jobs in the future. Therefore, sphere
of activities under the service sector and the
standard of operations should be systematically
upgraded and scientifically updated. This will
provide our educated youth honourable economic
engagement to progress in life as an independent
entrepreneur.
Second aspect linked with
employment generation is revenue generation aspect
to make Sikkim economically self-sufficient. You are
aware that we have decided that all development
strategies in the State will be based on the huge
natural resources and human resource available at
our disposal. Accordingly, we have defined our
priority areas which include hydro power generation,
setting up of clean industry and high-end
entertainment trade like online gaming. When all the
on-going projects and schemes are fully commissioned
Sikkim will have secured a very self-sufficient
future for the next 100 years.
This is the ultimate goal of
all our development activities. The people of Sikkim
will be able to see the ground impact of our efforts
by 2015. That would mean, they would be able to see
as well as feel the positive result of our programs
more explicitly.
While we have entered into the
fourth term of governance in the State, we have
worked out a comprehensive Mission Statements to
further consolidate the solid development gains we
have achieved so far and further to bring about
all-round, comprehensive and holistic development of
State. They include:
Sikkim Poverty
Free Mission:
Earmarking of 70 percent of plan allocation for
development of rural Sikkim has been the most vocal
of our commitment. Through multi-pronged strategies,
we are slowly but surely marching ahead to achieve
this Mission by 2015;
Sikkim Self Reliant Mission: Through
effective development and harnessing of human
resources and wide range of development potential
based on our natural resources, we are committed to
make Sikkim a self-reliant State by 2015;
Human Resource
Development Mission:
Accordingly to India
Today well-researched documentation, India ‘has
about four crore people registered at its employment
exchanges- but only two lakhs get jobs’. That means
at the national and international context,
issue of employability among our educated masses is
a serious challenge. In Sikkim, we have already
devised a range of very competitive intervention to
equip our educated youth with the right set of skill
and technical and technological knowhow as required
by sectors across board. We seek to make our human
resource fully employable within 2015.
Social Security
Mission:
This Mission envisages development and adoption of
sustainable social safety nets to protect the
interest of all sections of the population including
the business community.
Total Literate
State: We
are fully committed to realize this ambitious
mission under the Total Literacy Campaign together
with strengthening the existing infrastructure and
all other policy interventions from time to time.
Healthy Sikkim
Mission:
In addition to the whole range of incentives under
the program, we shall vigorously introduce
innovative steps involving both preventive and
curative measures encompassing diagnostic facilities
for timely detection of ailments covering all
age-groups including provision of treatment and
rehabilitative health care have been undertaken.
Sikkim as Producer
State:
Closely associated with this Mission is our call for
transforming Sikkim as the first organic state in
the country. Our effort has been to attain self
sufficiency in food grains and all other commodities
which are practically viable under the prevailing
climate and atmosphere.
Sikkim Cooperative
Mission:
The State Government has introduced policy framework
and host of incentives to encourage people to work
on cooperative basis. We have today a total number
of 347 Cooperative Societies registered with 110 in
East, 78 in West, 23 in North and 136 in South
District. We will further expand the number to the
maximum so that the resultant benefit will have an
even distribution among all people in the State. We
have already notified measures to grant preferential
treatment to registered Cooperative Societies in the
State in all development works within the State.
Sikkim Green
Mission:
Beginning with our first official call way back in
1995, we have progressed by leaps and bound in terms
of enlarging and safeguarding our green cover in the
State. With the launching of various green campaigns
including the more recent ‘Ten Minutes to Earth’, we
are very close to meeting our goal.
Eco-tourism
destination:
Widely hailed as the ultimate shangrila, we are
favourably placed to harness the unlimited tourism
potential of Sikkim. With all the natural endowment
including the third highest mountain peak in the
world, we need nothing except strong will and a
well-defined path. We are already half way through
to attain this mission.
Harnessing
hydro-power potential:
With the whopping 8000 mw of hydel potential, we
have already started working towards this direction
to tap as much potential to make our State
economically strong and self-sufficient. With the
additional 1,070 kw under 13 micro hydel power
projects, Sikkim has further discovered its
hydro-potential.
Complete
Decentralization and devolution:
The State Government has successfully implemented
all the provisions contained in 73rd and 74th
Constitutional Amendment Acts to fully installed
public representatives at the grass-root levels and
also urban municipalities. Now, with the ultimate
earmarking of funds, functions and functionaries to
the village level and urban bodies, Sikkim is well
progressed to achieve a new milepost in its
development.
We have advanced well
in all other sectors. What we need now is further
consolidation of our achievements so far to make
Sikkim a totally developed State.
Respected Sikkimese
citizens
As you can see, the SDF
Government is pursuing its goal of comprehensive and
holistic development in the State in all sincerity
and honesty. The range of development activities
with all the desired benefits to the people have
completely transformed the image of Sikkim as the
most happening State in the Country. While we
observe this eventful 64th Independence
Day of our great Nation, I would like to announce
some new and more imaginative socio-economic
measures which will provide speed and momentum to
our overall effort at fulfilling the many Missions’
goals as indicated above:
-
To further provide
additional marketing facility to our farmers, four
Kisan Bazars in four districts shall be
constructed followed by seventeen Kisan Bazars at
the BDO level in the villages. Likewise, Community
Centres, Play Ground and Knowledge Centre shall be
developed in each of these centres;
-
A new Block
Administrative Centre shall be established at
Machong Parakha where BDO and other functionaries
have been already posted;
-
New BACs in
Chumbung-Chakung and Chongrang in West Sikkim,
Nandu Gaon Chisopani in South and Martam in East
Sikkim shall be established;
-
I am also pleased
to announce opening of State Bank of Sikkim branch
office at all the BACs across the State;
-
The panchayats will
issue Trade licenses in their respective
jurisdiction;
-
The Panchayats will
appoint Accounts Assistants in their respective
units;
-
We have instituted
annual Discretionary Fund for the panchayats for
the first time in the State, which is categorized
as follow:
(i)
Rs. 10,000
for GPU President, Zilla Member and Nagar Panchayat
President;
(ii)
Rs. 7,000
for Vice President of GPU, Council Member and Nagar
Panchayat Vice-President;
(iii)
Rs. 6,000
for Secretary of GPU, and
(iv)
Rs. 5,000
for GPU Member and Nagar Panchayat Member;
-
All GPU centres
shall be fully computerized;
-
A new campaign
namely Mukhya Mantri Sakhsarta Abhiyan shall be
launched within August 2010 in all the GPUs and
the urban body centres to fully transform Sikkim
into a literate state;
10.
Pre-Primary
Teachers have been posted in each ward under all
GPUs for providing non-formal education to people
between the age group between 15 to 70;
11.
The ongoing
enumeration under the Chief Minister’s Universal
Financial Inclusion programme shall be completed
within this financial year;
12.
We will
work vigorously to make Sikkim kutcha house free and
slum free and BPL free state by 2015 and earn the
first distinction to achieve this feat in the
Country;
13.
The State
Government is also pleased to announce setting up of
sub-regional centres at the village level and depute
Agriculture Development Officer, Horticulture
Development Officer and Veterinary Officer under
Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Husbandry
Departments;
14.
The
existing VLW centres and Livestock centre shall be
further strengthened;
15.
During our
last terms, we irrigated a total of 9,215 hectares
of land; by 2010 an additional 10,000 hectares of
land shall be fully irrigated to cover all the
cultivable land;
16.
The
existing monthly Old Age Pension grant of Rs. 400
shall be enhanced to Rs. 600.
17.
For the
differentially abled persons in the State, the
monthly grants of Rs. 500 shall be further enhanced
to Rs. 600;
18.
The monthly
grant under the State Government’s program of
Samajit Bhatta of Rs. 500 shall be further enhanced
to Rs. 600.
19.
Works below
Rs. 50 lakhs shall be given to the registered
Cooperative Societies for execution falling within a
particular GPU. Further, Cooperative Societies shall
be given preferential treatment for grant of work
amounting to Rs. 2 crores;
20.
Sikkim
would be the first State in the Country to achieve
the distinction of being a Total Organic State. In
fact, Sikkim is the first State to work on patent
right and organic certification covering the entire
State.
21.
Of all the
political demands, the State Government will
continue to pursue with the central government for
early resolution of pending issues like granting of
tribal status for the remaining ethnic communities
in Sikkim; granting of seat reservation for the
Limboo and Tamang communities; primitive tribe
status for the Lepcha community; and increase in the
Sikkim Legislative seats to 40 and 2 parliamentary
seats each in Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha from the
existing 1.
Respected fellow
Sikkimese
As we are on our onward march
to make our State developed, we are again witness to
the usual antics of some motley group of disgruntled
political elements in the State. They have again
reassembled and resurfaced to pose resistance to the
State Government’s pro-poor and people-centric
policies and programs. I would like to maintain
that to oppose development of a particular area or
community is part of a wider conspiracy to destroy
the capacity and economic prospects of people. The
parties opposed to us can well question us if there
is underdevelopment, they can question us if people
are miserable for lack of development. They can
question us if people are rendered insecure and if
peace and security are threatened. However, when the
Opposition parties get jittery over the impressive
development initiatives with lot of good prospect
for people’s future, this is proof enough that they
are anti-people and committing crime against the
present and future of Sikkim.
Respected citizens,
We as part of the world
community are faced with many challenges. Within the
Nation, we are fighting war against extremism,
terrorism and against the menace of poverty,
HIV/AIDS and substance abuse. Locally, we have been
trying hard to develop enough immunity cover to
fully protect our society from these global menaces.
Environmental degradation has
worried the world community like never before. More
recently, a study carried out by a journal exhorted
people to ‘Go bananas and save the world’ and opt
for fish over other meat. Traditionally, we grow
bananas under the most organic environment. We must
cash on this scientific observation. That means
bananas and our famed trout
fish very much hold that magic to further
brighten up life and our economy.
Peace, security, communal
harmony is the hallmark of the Sikkimese society.
The sacred provision of Secularism as contained in
the Preamble to our Constitution has been fully
secured and protected in Sikkim. Even with the
projected 8.5 % growth rate in 2010-11 and a 9 %
growth rate forecasted for 2011-12, internal strife
and disturbing elements are creating a war-like
situation in many parts of the Country. Therefore,
the most immediate and pertinent understanding of
development on the whole should be translating
statistics into authentic human happiness in the
absolute sense. In Sikkim, we are closely monitoring
this aspect to ensure that benefits of ongoing
development initiatives reach every doorstep duly
making our citizens the happiest people in the
Country and the world.
Respected fellow citizens,
sixteen years of hard work and consistency on our
part have resulted in positive results to not only
fulfill many issues and demands which were,
otherwise, turned down in the past. The lists are
many and long including- inclusion of Sikkim as the
eighth Member of NEC, reopening of Nathula trade,
and recognition of Limboo and Tamang in the list of
Scheduled Tribes and establishment of Sikkim Central
University. Exception secured for Sikkim Subject
Certificate holders and their descendents in the
matter of Central Income Tax has helped to ideally
recognize the unique identity of the Sikkimese
people thereby further fortify the spirit under
Article 371F of the Indian Constitution.
Respected fellow
citizens
The Sikkim Democratic Front
government shall always stand firm to preserve and
further promote peace in the State and the region.
Over the last sixteen years, we have faced assaults
from our opponent on almost all issues. Empowered by
the power of the people thus bestowed upon us and
harnessing that freedom for all the good cause, we
will as usual unravel the sinister design of our
adversaries and keep the Sikkimese people secure and
protected for all time to come.
On this solemn occasion, I
would call upon all the citizens to fully shoulder
their social responsibility and contribute towards
strengthening the State and the Country. To the
members of civil society, I fervently appeal to
stand guard against all anti-social elements.
Further, we have a total of 38,861 government
employees with the best range of salary structure,
daily wages- who are sponsored for regular training,
refresher course. Ample promotion avenues have been
created granting promotions to all employees on a
regular basis. I would continue to solicit continued
support from them to give justice to our liberal
gesture towards the government employees.
While we share this monumental
sense of liberation today, we will also exult in the
celebration of freedom and continue to work
relentlessly and go for what Jawaharlal Nehru would
call it ‘incessant striving’ for the sake of
Sikkimese society and the Country at large.
I congratulate all my fellow
Sikkimese for the freedom they enjoy and the
responsibility they assert in the building of strong
society. I also send my warm greetings to my
respected Sikkimese people and a Very Best Wishes
for a happy and prosperous life ahead.
Thank you
Jai hind
|
